Story Highlights

In typical only-in-Westchester style, one of the amenities within a proposed luxury development in Bedford would be a working 4-acre farm that would grow fresh produce for residents and local restaurants. A farmer would live on-site, in one of the units designated as affordable, under Westchester County guidelines.

The developer Wilder Balter Partners is proposing the new 79-home development aimed at empty-nesters on a 118-acre parcel in the heart of the town.

Now with a working title of Bedford Farm, the new subdivision would be east of Interstate 684 at the intersection of Old Post Road and Crusher Road, across from the A&P shopping center. Nine of the units, which are a mix of single-family and two-unit buildings, would be designated as affordable.

"The two-unit buildings are being designed to look like single-family homes," said Bill Balter, president of Elmsford-based Wilder Balter. The company is working with Bedford architect Tom O'Brien "to design the community to capture the classic Bedford architectural character."

Other amenities include a high-end 5,000-square-foot clubhouse with a gym, catering kitchen, personal-training space and possibly a pool. Most of the homes would have first-floor master suites, a favorite feature for aging empty-nesters.

The proposed luxury homes in Bedford consist of single family and two-unit buildings. The two-unit buildings are designed to look like single family homes.(Photo: Submitted)

"It will be marketed toward people who have a big house here in Bedford, or nearby areas, and want to downscale but want to stay in the town, in the area," said John Bainlardi, vice president at Wilder Balter. "There is not a lot out there now."

The site has been the focus of two previously proposed projects that never came to fruition: a subdivision of 50-plus homes in the mid-1990s and then a high school for the nearby private Rippowam Cisqua School.

"I think this property has been studied a lot over the last two approval processes," Balter said. "We envision that we'll get a thorough review with a lot of public input. We think it's a very good use of the property.

"We're really excited about it," he added.

The proposed luxury homes in Bedford consist of single family and two-unit buildings. The two-unit buildings are designed to look like single family homes. The developer is working with Bedford architect Tom O’Brien to design the community to capture the classic Bedford architectural character.(Photo: Submitted)

Under the Wilder Balter plan, 70 of the 118 acres would remain vacant as open space, with 4 miles of sidewalks and walking trails for residents and "potentially public access," Balter said.

He said that the primary parcel of 113 acres is now owned by Marvin Schwartz, who is with the investment management firm Neuberger Berman. Wilder Balter would take title if and when it gets all of the needed town approvals on the project.

The proposed luxury homes in Bedford consist of single family and two-unit buildings. The two-unit buildings are designed to look like single family homes.(Photo: Submitted)

Other Wilder Balter projects

Wilder Balter Partners has a strong history in the Lower Hudson Valley. It is currently building Riverton in Upper Nyack, which has 19 luxury homes overlooking the Hudson River; Glassbury Court at Cold Spring, consisting of 10 affordable homes, 80 luxury "active-adult" homes and a 40-acre town park; and Pinebrook in Larchmont, a 51-unit affordable condominium.

The Elmsford-based firm has completed 15 other communities in Westchester, including affordable housing, townhouses, single-family homes and two active-adult communities in Mount Kisco and Yorktown.